This volume presents a critical analysis of transatlantic relations in the field of environmental governance and climate change. The work focuses on understanding the possible trends in the evolution of global environmental governance and the prospects for breaking the current impasse on climate action. Drawing on research involving experts from eleven different universities and institutes, the authors provide innovative analyses on policy measures taken by the EU and the US, the world’s largest economic and commercial blocs, in a number of fields, ranging from general attitudes on environmental leadership with regard to climate change, to energy policies, new technologies for hydrocarbons extraction and carbon capture, as well as the effects of extreme weather events on climate-related political attitudes. The book examines the way in which the current attitudes of the EU and the US with regard to climate change will affect international cooperation and the building of consensus on possible climate policies, and looks to the future for international environmental governance, arguably one of the most pressing concerns of civilisation today. This book, which is based on research carried out in the context of the EU-financed FP7 research project TRANSWORLD, will appeal to academics, policy makers and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges resulting from climate change.

Table of Contents:

-- Introduction -- Christine Bakker and Francesco Francioni. -- Part I The Evolution of the Global Environmental System and Leadership: The evolution of the global environmental system: trends and prospects in the EU and the US, Francesco Francioni and Christine Bakker; The shifting locus of global climate policy leadership, Denny Ellerman.-- Part II EU Competencies and Policies on Environmental Issues and Climate Change: The evolution of EU policy and law in the environmental field: achievements and current challenges, Emanuela Orlando; The evolution of EU competences in the field of external relations and its impact on environmental governance policies, Kati Kulovesi and Marise Cremona; The importance of coherent and integrated energy and agriculture policies in meeting EU climate change objectives, Antony Froggatt, Estelle Rouhaud and Tereza Svačinová; The European emission trading system: flashing lights, dark shadows and future prospects for global ETS cooperation, Simone Borghesi and Massimiliano Montini; Planes, trains and automobiles: the EU legislation on climate change and the question of consistency with WTO law, Stefanie Hiesinger and Petros C. Mavroidis; Primary sovereign rights or secondary environmental duties? Critical international law issues raised by the extraterritorial application of the EU emission trading system in the aviation sector, Ottavio Quirico.-- Part III US Policies on Environmental Issues and Climate Change: New drivers of US climate action? The politics of extreme weather and adaptation, Bernice Lee and Diarmuid Torney; Adjustments of US energy policy to climate change: trends at the federal and state level, Helena Schulzová; The new US domestic climate and clean energy agenda, Nigel Purvis, Cecilia Springer and Samuel Grausz. -- Part IV Cross-Cutting Issues: EU and US non-state actors and climate governance, Annalisa Savaresi; The governance of the Arctic environment: the EU and US contribution, Patrizia Vigni; Handing over leadership: the drivers and future of transatlantic environmental governance, Eugenio Cusumano. -- Index.